FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

A community of faith committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ with a hurting world through words and actions

DECEMBER 3, 2006                                   FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT                                  9:30 A.M. SERVICE

We welcome you to this service of praise and adoration.   Let God speak to you through the songs and the message, and enjoy the fellowship of those who are seeking the Lord and the spiritual help that we need for daily living.

WELCOME                                                                                                                   Worship Leader, Karen Murray

 

LIGHTING OF THE FIRST ADVENT CANDLE – THE CANDLE OF HOPE

 

WORSHIP IN SONG: AWAKE, O  ISRAEL (by Merla Watson)

Awake, O Israel, put off thy slumber and the truth shall set you free;

For out of Zion comes thy Deliverer, in the year of jubilee.

O, hallelujah, O, hallelujah, hallelujah, praise the Lord! (repeat)

For in the furnace of much affliction, I have chosen thee;

Behold, and so for iron I'll give thee silver and for brass I'll give thee gold. 

O, hallelujah, O, hallelujah, hallelujah, praise the Lord! (repeat)

Thou art My chosen, for I have sought thee, thou are graven on My hand;

And I will gather all those that gather, they shall come back to their land. 

O, hallelujah, O, hallelujah, hallelujah, praise the Lord!  (repeat)  (1974 Catacombs Productions, Ltd.)

 

O MAGNIFY THE LORD    (Michael O'Shields)

O magnify the Lord for He is worthy to be praised.

O magnify the Lord for He is worthy to be praised.

Hosanna, blessed be the Rock, blessed be the Rock of my salvation. (repeat)         (1981 Sound ILL, Inc.)

 

 

LIFT UP YOUR HEADS  (by Steven L. Fry)

Lift up your heads to the coming King. Bow before Him and adore Him, sing.

To His Majesty let your praises be pure and holy, giving glory to the King of kings.  (1974 Birdwing Music)

 

OPENING PRAYER: 

Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth, in a serious seeking after you,
and in a heartfelt walking with you, every day of our lives;  
so that when you come, we may be found not hiding our talent,
nor serving the flesh, nor asleep with our lamps empty,
but waiting and longing for our Lord, our glorious King, forever and ever.Amen.
(From Richard Baxter, 1615 – 91)

 

PRINCE OF PEACE YOU ARE  (by Robert Gay)

Prince of Peace You are, You're the Bright and Morning Star;

Wond'rous, royal King, You have made my heart to sing.

I worship You in spirit and in truth, lifting my praise Your name

in song I raise; I give to You my life, I offer up my sacrifice,

I pledge my love to You, my God and King. King, my God and King.   (1988 Integrity's Hosanna! Music)

 

PEOPLE, LOOK EAST (by Eleanor Farjeon)

People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of the year.  Make your house fair as you are able,

trim the hearth and set the table.  People, look east and sing today: Love, the Guest, is on the way.

 

Furrows, be glad.  Though earth is bare, one more seed is planted there.  Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish.  People, look east and sing today: Love, the Rose, is on the way.

 

Stars, keep the watch.  When night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim, shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together.  People, look east and sing today: Love, the Star, is on the way.

 

Angels announce with shouts of mirth him who brings new life to earth.  Set every peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming.  People, look east and sing today:  Love, the Lord, is on the way.  (Oxford University Press)

EL SHADDAI   (by Michael Card & John Thompson)

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, El Elyon na Adonai;

age to age you're still the same by the power of the name.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Er-kahm-ka na Adonai;

we will praise and lift you high, El Shaddai.  (1981 Whole Armor Pub. Co.)

 

BRINGING OUR NEEDS TO GOD (Prayers of the People)

PRAYER RESPONSE:  Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

(1989 United Methodist Pub. House)

 

WORSHIP IN GIVING: Offering 

 

SPECIAL MUSIC                                               Junior and Wesley Choirs

 

RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBER

 

SHARING THE WORD:  Scripture:                          Luke 21:25 - 36

                                                  Message:                “People, Get Ready!”                                      Pastor Steve Donat  

 

RESPONSE TO THE WORD:  The Sacrament of Communion

 

 

HOLY COMMUNION  - The congregation is invited to receive Communion at the Communion rails.  Come forward when you are ready, and receive the Communion elements with joy.  These symbols represent the Body and Blood of Jesus offered for our forgiveness and new life.  The invitation to receive comes from Jesus himself, and is not based on membership in this or any other Church.  While you are waiting for your place at the Communion rail, take advantage of this quiet time to meditate, and offer your personal prayer and praise to God.

 

CLOSING HYMN 246   JOY TO THE WORLD (by Isaac Watts)

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room,

and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

 

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!  Let all their songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

 

No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; he comes to make his blessings flow

far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.

 

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness,

and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.  (Public Domain)

 

GOING FORTH:  The Benediction                                        

A NOTE TO PARENTS:  Child care is provided for infants and children up to 4 years old in the Education Building during Sunday school and worship hours. 

 

ATTENDANCE LAST WEEK:    Worship:  533   Sunday School: 162

ACOLYTE: Jessica Hagmaier

 

USHERS: Ed Florida, Ruth Florida, Tom Kulp, Greg Kincaid, Carlos Mocelo

 

THE CHANCEL BOUQUETS HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY: Brian & Melissa O’Donnell, to the Glory of God and in memory of his brother, John O’Donnell.  Also by: Don & Fern Knerr in honor of their grandchildren, Emily, Jeremy, Ricky, Jessica.

THE ROSEBUD ON THE ALTAR IS TO WELCOME: Grace Wang Scheyhing, born February 8, 2006 to Glenn & Susan Scheyhing.  The grandparents are Bob & Nan Scheyhing.

PRAYER CONCERNS: Steve Greer, Faye Sienkiewicz,  Mary Louise Shingleton, Kathleen Barnwell (mother of Leslie Proctor), Tom Langshaw, Jean Janssen (sister of Sue Adams), Edna Hofmann (Carla McIlmail’s mother), Lidio Zezza (Lucy Vogt’s father), Gary Falis (Lucy Vogt’s brother-in-law),  Christine Crane, Francis Staffieri (Carol Taylor’s father).

PRAYERS AND SYMPATHY TO: PRAYERS AND SYMPATHY TO: Maureen VanArtsdalen & family on the death of her father, Robert Ryan

SERVING IN IRAQ:  Mark Dougherty, Jr., grandson of Marilyn McClendon, David Wichmann, friend of Rick & Linda Young, Scott Berner, grandson of Ray & Jean Berner, Michael Gala (cousin of Sue Lewis, nephew of Chris Fisher).

The Staff of First United Methodist Church

                            Stephen Donat, Senior Pastor                              Joan Armstrong, Administrative Assistant

                            HeyYoung Horton, Associate Pastor                 Karen Halligan, Membership Secretary

                            Glenn Rodgers, Director of Music                      Sue Harris, Parish Nurse

                            Karen Murray, Director of Christian Ed.            Curt Diehl, Property Maintenance Coordinator

Church Office Contacts

                                Phone: 856-235-0450                                 Fax: 856-235-2722        

                             E-mail: church@meetwithGod.com                 Website: www.meetwithGod.com

                                                                                                                                                         (CCLI License No. 782839)